Storage-battery grid.



No. 757,396. PATRNTRD APR. 12, 1904. G. w. FROST.

STORAGE BATTERY GRID. AAPI'LIGATII FILED FEB. 9, 1904.

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Y UNITED STATES Patented April 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

`STORAGEBATTERY GRID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,396, dated April 12, 1904.

Application filed February 9, 1904. Serial No. 192,831. (No model.)

To all w/wm/ it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE W. FRos'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage-Battery Grids, of which the following is a specification.

This grid is intended for use in lead storage batteries, and is designed to securely hold a maximum amount of active material with a The grid is constructed to provide a large contact-surface between the metal and active material and to have great rigidity with the least possible weight. Y

The grid comprises arectangular frame, a series of retainingstrips extending between the sides of the frame at each face of the grid, the strips of the two series being relatively staggered, and a horizontal Web extending fron each strip substantially through the gri The grid is provided with a terminal lug having a flanged head, whichenables the adjacent electrodes of like sign to be readily and permanently connected by a burned joint.

Referring to theaccompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of the grid with a portion broken out. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the grid and the filling of active material. Fig. 3 is a vdetail vertical section o'f the upper portion of the unfinished cast grid. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the same portion after it is finished, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the flanged terminal heads of several electrodes burned together.

The grid 1, which is preferably cast of puregreater than is required to give the grid the necessary rigidity, and the cast grids are therefore passed under a broad milling-cutter, Which removes 0.03 of an inch from each side of the plate. The thickness of the cast grid, which is usually 0.32 of an inch for heavy stationary cells, is thereby reduced to 0.26 0f an inch, and the weight of the grid is thereby decreased about one-third. For automobilebatteries the -grids are cast 0.25 of an inch thick and milled down to 0.19 of an inch.. As the milling-cutter passes over the surface of the plate it leaves narrow burs or ilanges at the edges of the retaining-strips 3 and webs 4. These flanges are of service in retaining the active material in the grid. Grids of considerable size are stiened by one or more vertical intermediate ribs 7, extending from the top to the bottom of the grid. Three such stiiening-ribs are shown in Fig. 1. The active material 6 is forced into the grid through-the small slits while in a plastic condition and is then hardened. The electrodes are formed in the usual manner.

The terminal lug 8 of each grid is provided with a laterally-flanged head 9. The intermediate electrodes have a double-flanged or T-shaped head 9. The end electrodes have a single-flanged head 10. These heads have parallel edges and are of such width that the adjacent edges register whenthe electrodes are properly spaced apart. These heads enable perfect connections to be made between the electrodes. The two clean edges of the heads of adjacent electrodes are simply brought together, a mold placed around the under part, and an oxyhydrogen flame applied at the top. The lead is thus melted entirely through. and

upon cooling produces a perfect smooth joint 1l. A connector-strap l2 is cast integral with the head of one of the grids, so that in a fiveplate cell, for example, there are but three joints, and these joints are substantially perfect and will resist the action of acid for an indefinite period. l

The distribution of the metal of the grid is such `as to give it great rigidity with the least possible weight. The space available for active material amounts to from fty to seventy per cent. of the total volume of the electrode,

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and the weight of the active material in portable batteries may be fifty per cent. of the total weight of the electrode. After the active material is forced into the grid and hardened itis practically impossible to remove it. It is therefore unnecessary to employ separators of asbestos or fabric. The exposed surface of the active material is reduced toa minimum of about forty per cent. of the total surface of the electrode, and the lead surface of the grid greatly increases the capacity of the plate as it becomes oxidized during use. Careful tests have shown that the exposed surface of the active material is sufficient to give ready access to the electrolyte and that the cells will charge and discharge with an eiiiciency equal to that of any cell havingr pasted plates. The retaining strips and webs not only prevent the plate from buckling, but,

give a large .contact-surface, so that current is readily carried to or taken from the active material. rlhe design of the grid isalso suchthat it expands evenly as the active material increases in volume.

The grid can be cast in a simple and inexpensive mold, and a workman can cast several hundred grids of medium size in a day.

I claiml. A double-lattice battery-grid, comprising a frame, retaining-strips on the opposite faces and in staggered relation, and a web extending from each strip substantially through the grid, as set forth.

2. A battery-grid, comprising a rectangular frame, a series of retaining-strips extending between the sides of the frame at each face of the grid, the strips of the two series being relatively staggered, and a horizontal web extending from each strip substantially through the grid, as set forth.

3. A battery-grid, comprising a rectangular frame, a series of retaining-strips extending between the sides of the frame at each face of the grid, the strips of the two series being relatively staggered, and a horizontal, median web extending from each strip substantially through the grid, as set forth.

4. A battery-grid, comprising a rectangular frame, a series of retaining-strips extending between the sides of the frame at each face of the grid, the strips of the two series being relatively staggered, a horizontal, median web extending from each strip substantially through the grid, and an intermediate, vertical stiffening rib or ribs extending from the top to the bottom ofthe grid, as set forth.

5. A battery-grid, comprising a rectangular frame, a series of retaining-strips extending between the sides of the frame at each face of the grid, the strips of the two series being relatively staggered, a horizontal web extending from each strip substantially through the grid, and burs or narrow flanges on the edges of said strips and webs, as set forth.

6. A battery-grid, comprising a frame, retaining-strips on the opposite faces and in staggered relation, a web extending from each strip substantially through the grid, and a terminal lug having a laterally-Hanged head.

7. A pair of battery-electrodes, each electrode having a terminal lug with a lateral, relatively thin, broad flange, the adjacent edges of said ianges being fused together,.as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. FROST.

Witnesses:

FRED L. WHITE, FRANCES FROST. 

